Thank You, Volunteers! Hike the High Line Find out who to thank for A hike in New York City N A A B helping to keep trails in our may be a good choice N A W I region open and accessible. during spring mud season. 9 0 0 2 READ MORE ON PAGE 6 READ MORE ON PAGE 12 © March/April 2011 New York-New Jersey Trail Conference — Connecting People with Nature since 1920 www.nynjtc.org New Map Set Our Parks Will Lead the Way To Trails in on Life Support Jersey Highlands! For the first time in 11 years, the Trail Con - ference is adding a new region to its popular line of duarble Tyvek map sets.* This spring, be on the lookout for Jersey Highlands Trails—Central. This two-map set will show marked hik - ing trails throughout the central part of the New Jersey Highlands and adjacent areas, including parks such as Farny State Park, Pyramid Mountain, High Mountain Park Preserve, Allamuchy Mountain State Park, and Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. A large t may appear at first glance that the park Last year in New York, OPRHP, the Dept. They included cuts to State Parks (8.3% portion of the Highlands Trail is also shown. systems in both New York and New of Environmental Conservation (DEC), according to his executive summary) and The map complements the current North IJersey have been unaffected by the eco - and the Environmental Protection Fund DEC (5%). The “good” news is that these Jersey Trails map set, which focuses on an nomic downturn. After all, the gates have (EPF) all received double-digit cuts in con - proposed cuts are in line with, not more area of the Jersey Highlands further north. remained open and public access to the trast to cuts of less than 5% to budgets of than, cuts proposed to other agencies. The map set is being produced in part - trails, pools, and recreational areas have other agencies. Additional “good” news is that he pro - nership with the Land Conservancy of been relatively uninterrupted in both states. poses to appropriate $134 million to the New Jersey. Over the years, the public use of parks has Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the steadily increased. New York’s Office of Are crossed fingers and same as the prior year. (This includes $17 Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation duct tape enough to keep million for open space acquisition and (OPRHP) reported in January that visits to funding for other parks and stewardship state parks and historic sites in 2010 was 57 our state parks alive? programs.) And the governor has promised million, up one million from the previous no “sweeps” from the EPF, the practice of year’s total. In New Jersey, park officials diverting money from environmental proj - report steady increases in park user numbers, The Trail Conference is acutely aware of ects into other state projects. from 10.5 million visitors in 1990 to 15.7 the budgetary challenges, but states’ fiscal Given the fiscal situation in the state, million in 2000 to 18.8 million in 2010. problems were not caused by their open many environmentalists consider the gov - Behind the open gates however are space and park budgets and will not be ernor’s proposals a good sign that he is shrinking park staffs that have been strug - solved by cutting them further. Neverthe - committed to environmental concerns, gling for years to keep facilities open to the less, further cuts have been proposed to the although at a much reduced level. (The public on seriously downsized budgets. In environmental agencies in New York by EPF was scheduled to be funded at $300 both states, administrations facing severe Governor Cuomo and are under discussion million in the 2011-12 budget year.) As budget deficits have sought to close parks in New Jersey. this budget is negotiated with the legisla - in an attempt to save money. Though these ture, those who support parks and open Name That Map Contest Winners To plans wilted in the face of strong public New York: Bad News Is Good News space need to stay vigilant and be ready to Get Free Copies outcry, parks budgets have been regularly On February 1, New York’s governor set jump to their defense. Last fall, the Publications committee targeted for disproportionate budget cuts. forth his proposals for fiscal year 2011-12. continued on page 2 expanded participation in the project by sponsoring an online “Name That Map!” contest. The committee received 180 entries. Many thanks to everyone who pro - Eddie Walsh Gets State Trail Worker American Trails’ State Trail Worker vided their input! Award recognizes an individual Thanks also to the Land Conservancy of Award from American Trails who has demonstrated outstanding New Jersey for helping to spread the word contributions and provided and providing great feedback as well. Three Eddie Walsh, a life-long member and vol - has led him to become a leader in both consistent support for trail planning, lucky contest winners will be notified soon, unteer of the New York-New Jersey Trail training volunteers in the various skills for development, or maintenance. It including our grand prize winner, who will Conference, was recognized as State Trail trail development and coordinating the on- is intended to recognize the receive a free copy of our 10 current map Worker in New York for 2010 by American the-ground work. While Eddie continues commitment and efforts of a private sets (plus this new map set) and a free one- Trails, a national trails advocacy organiza - to volunteer his expertise and muscle on or public sector individual working year Trail Conference membership. The tion. The award was made at the group’s trail projects, he has also turned his passion for enhanced trail recreation in maps are in the final stages of production 20th annual symposium held in November into a career and business, building trails their local area/state. and will be available soon. in Chattanooga, Tennessee. professionally since 1993. For more information about this new Eddie has been assisting with trail devel - Before founding a trail-building compa - map set and to sign up to receive an email opment and maintenance since an early ny, Tahawus Trails LLC, Eddie worked for when the map is available for purchase, age, learning in the company of his father many Northeast trail organizations, includ - visit www.nynjtc.org/panel/jersey-high - Ed, a Trail Conference Life Member (as is ing the Trail Conference, the Adirondack lands-trails-central-map. Eddie) with decades of trail service to his Mountain Club, Appalachian Mountain credit, particularly on the Long Path. Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy *Sterling Forest Trails map, first published in Over the years Eddie’s passion for trails continued on page 2 2000, was the last “new” regional map added to our catalog. VOLUME XXXVIII, N UMBER 2 ISSN 0749-1352 Eddie Walsh, center, a mentor to many, was named New York Trail Worker of the Year Page 2 March/April 2011 New Board Member Nominations - We Want Your Voice To Be Heard Appointed to Fill Vacancy The Trail Conference Nominating Committee is seeking Delegates-at-Large VOLUME XXXVIII, NO.2 MARCH /A PRIL 2011 George O’Lear was appointed to the Trail and nominations for membership on the Board of Directors. The GEORGETTE WEIR EDITOR Conference Board of Directors at the January LOUIS LEONARDIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER qualification for Delegate-at-Large is current membership in the Trail meeting. He fills the position recently vacated TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #970-100) Conference. The qualifications for Board of Directors are current by Seth McKee. George, who holds a master’s (ISSN 0749-1352) is published bi-monthly by membership in the Trail Conference and service participation in trails degree in public administration from the the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference as a maintenance or on a Trail Conference committee. Self-nominations for benefit of membership. Subscriptions are University of Pittsburgh together with a available to libraries only at $15.00 a year. Delegate-at-Large and Board of Directors are appropriate and welcome. master’s in urban planning from New York Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and Please email your nomination to [email protected]. Nominating University, brings more than 30 years of additional offices. Postmaster: Send address Committee members are: Allyn Dodd (chair), Jim Gregoire, John Gunzler, planning experience for Rockland County. changes to the address below. Opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily represent the policy Eddie Saiff, and Mary Smart. He is a hike leader for both the New York- or position of the Conference. Contributions of North Jersey Chapter of the Appalachian typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings are Mountain Club and the Westchester Trails welcome. Manuscripts may be edited for style Association. He recently stepped down as and length. Send SASE for writers’ guidelines. Thruway Sporting Goods Now Offers president of the latter organization. George Submission deadlines for the TRAIL WALKER are January 15 (Mar./Apr. issue), March 15 Discounts to Our Members! lives in Tarrytown, NY, with his wife, Toni. (May/June issue), May 15 (July/Aug. issue), July 15 (Sept./Oct. issue), September 15 The Trail Conference is pleased to announce a new retail partner. (Nov./Dec. issue), November 15 (Jan./Feb. Thruway Sporting Goods in Walden, NY, now offers our members a 10% discount issue). Unsolicited contributions cannot be Dept. of Clarifications acknowledged unless accompanied by SASE. (you must show your member card) off of any item in the store, excluding sale items . For information on advertising rates, please write Thruway Sporting Goods is a full line outdoor sporting goods retailer specializing in In the January/February Trail Walker story, or call.